The Republican presidential candidate made the remarks Thursday at an Iowa homeschool forum hosted by conservative radio broadcaster Steve Deace, a highly influential figure in the state’s GOP primaries who regularly complains about the “rainbow jihad.”

“You look at the jihad that is being waged right now in Indiana and Arkansas, going after people of faith who respect the biblical teaching that marriage is the union of one man and one woman,” Cruz said.

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, a rumored GOP presidential candidate, also appeared at the event to denounce an unholy alliance “assaulting the rights of Christians.”

“We saw a very unusual alliance this week,” Jindal said. “We saw an alliance between Hollywood elites and corporate America assaulting the right of Christians who don’t want to choose between our faith, our sincerely held beliefs, and our ability to run our businesses.”

“We need to remind these elites, America did not create religious liberty, religious liberty created the United States of America,” Jindal added.